Shoe-lace clasp



Patented Dec. 20, I898. M. E. HENDRICK.

SHOE LACE CLASP.

(Application filed Feb. 20, 1897.) (N o M o d e I I'VITNESSES UNIT D STATES MILES E. HENDRIOK,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF AMITY, OREGON.

SHOE-LACE CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 616,325, dated December 20, 1898., Application filed February 20, 1897- Serial No. 624,340. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MILES E. HENDRICK, acitizen of the United States, residing at Amity, in the county of Yamhill and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Lace Clasps, (patented to me in Great Britain April 20, 1897, No. 9,894,) and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention consists of certain novel constructions,which will be hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved clasp or fastener applied to an infants shoe, and Fig. 2 represents an enlarged detail perspective View of my said improved clasp.

The numeral 1 in the drawings represents the shoe, 2 2 the laces of the same, and 3 my improved clasp or fastener. Said clasp is preferably constructed of a single piece of brass wire bent at a point adjacent to its center to form an attaching-coil 4, two parallel lace-receiving loops 5 5, and two finishingrings 6 6. The said loops 5 5 lie in parallel planes at right angles to the plane'of the coil 4 and sufficiently near together to form a decided kink in the laceswhen drawn through the same, as shown in the drawings, so as to prevent the laces from pulling through said loops. In applying the laces within the loops each lace is first passed over the outside of one loop and then drawn down into the opposing loop. By this peculiar method of passing the laces through the respective loops the tension of the laces create a pressure upon said loops in addition to theirinherent spring quality, and thus firmly bind the respective laces in position. The tighter the laces are pulled the greater the pressure upon the loops and upon the laces contained therein.

'Myimproved fastener is secured to the shoe, near the top of the same, bya suitable rivet 7, which passes through the coil 4. In securing the said fastener in position the finishing-rim gs 6 6 of the same are preferably arranged at the top, so that the laces may be inserted into the fastener by simply drawing the same down into the respective loops from opposite sides.

By the employment of my. invention the tying of loops and knots in the laces is altogether avoided, and the same are secured firmlyin position without any liability of slipping, but at the same time may be instantly detached to loosen the laces by simply pulling the ends of the laces upward, which causes said lace to pass out of the top of the respective loop. The wire of which the fastener is formed is sufficiently resilient to enable the pressure of the laces alone to contract the respective loops, and thus bind the laces pass ing through the same firmly therein.

My invention is particularly applicable to infants shoes, as by its peculiar construction the laces may be secured or detached Very quickly and with a minimum amount of trouble.

I do not care to limit the application of my invention to the securing of shoe-laces, as the same may be aptly employed for holding reins by being secured to the inside of the dashboard in the proper position.

It should be understood that it is important that the device whenin place upon a shoe be held firmly against pivotal or other movement.-

For this reason the spring-coil 4 has been formed, through which the rivet or other securing device passes, the same at all times exerting a spring-pressure upon the securing device, which prevents the rotation or other independent movement thereof. I

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As anew article of manufacture, a fastenin g device for shoe-laces, consisting of a clamp constructed of a single piece of wire bent ad jacent to its center, forming a spring-coil through which a rivet or other securing de-' vice maybe passed, and extending outwardly from opposite sides of said coil forming two parallel arms which are bent upwardly constituting loops, the said loops lying in parallel planes at right angles to the plane of the coil, and sufiiciently near each other to form a kink in the laces when the latter are passed therethrough, as and for the purpose set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

MILES E. HENDRIOK.

Witnesses:

J. W. BRIEDWELL, Jr., 13. H. SPRINGER. 

